The Dutch will again have the same amount of money left over as they did in the first quarter of 2020. Just like the first quarter of 2022, that was a period with few restrictions on Corona. In that quarter, the alleged free home savings amounted to €11 billion. This is about 8.7 billion euros less than in the first quarter of 2021, when the first restrictions were imposed due to the outbreak of the Coruna virus.

“It certainly has to do with the corona” as a reason to flatten the desire to save, says chief economist Peter Heine van Mulligen of CBS. “The fact that spending is higher now not only because people are buying more products and services, but also because life has become much more expensive. However, the fact that people are left with more in 2021 is due to the fact that people were able to spend less money. due to Corona restrictions.

In the first quarter of 2022, the total income of Dutch households – and non-profit organizations – was €7.1 billion higher than the same period in 2021. However, consumer spending was €15.8 billion higher. About 4.9 billion euros of this is attributable to inflation.

Statistics Netherlands does not know the size of savings accounts. That is why the research institute assumes free savings. This is people’s total income minus expenses. The money left is what we call free savings. They can put that into their savings account, pay off their home money, or invest or invest. So it is anything but consumption, says van Mulligen.